Molecular Regulation of Cell Wall Structure During Wood Formation in Forest Trees

There is a growing demand for wood as a sustainable energy source and an essential carbon sink for ecosystems. Wood formation is a dynamic process involving plant radial growth in various stages, including vascular cambial cell proliferation, xylem mother cell differentiation and expansion, secondary cell wall thickening, and programmed cell death. Wood formation is controlled by highly complex molecular regulatory networks. Identifying and analyzing the molecular mechanisms regulating key target genes is crucial for further characterizing how wood is formed. This article summarizes the current knowledge regarding wood formation and the underlying molecular regulatory mechanisms.

木材作为可持续能源及生态系统不可或缺的碳汇（carbon sink），其市场需求正日益增长。木质部形成（wood formation）是一个动态过程，涵盖植物径向生长的多个阶段，包括维管形成层细胞（vascular cambial cell）增殖、木质部母细胞（xylem mother cell）分化与扩张、次生细胞壁（secondary cell wall）增厚以及程序性细胞死亡（programmed cell death）。木质部形成受极为复杂的分子调控网络调控。鉴定并分析调控关键靶基因（target gene）的分子机制，对于进一步阐明木质部形成的过程至关重要。本文综述了当前关于木质部形成及其潜在分子调控机制的研究进展。